Free Web NovelChapter 18: Skull Knight
BOOM!!
As dust exploded into the air, the oppressive pressure released by the Skull Knight swept across the area like a violent storm, sending broken weapons skidding across the ancient stone floor while the crimson flames burning within the knight’s helmet flickered ominously.
Dan Moriarty slowly tightened his grip around the Thousand Heavens Rainfall Divine Sword, his gaze never leaving the armored figure.
"...A swordsman," he murmured, realizing that unlike the Infernal Crimson Lion King, whose overwhelming strength came from its monstrous physique, the being before him radiated the distinct discipline, precision, and experience of a true warrior.
It stood motionless upon the circular platform with its colossal greatsword still embedded in the stone until, with a sharp CRACK!!, its skeletal hand tightened around the hilt.
The enormous blade was lifted effortlessly, sending a wave of sword intent erupting throughout the chamber that made even Dan feel his breathing grow slightly heavier.
"So..." his lips curved into a faint smile, "...you also walk the path of the sword."
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[@DrunkenSwordImmortal: Hahaha! Excellent! Finally, another swordsman! Brat, don’t embarrass our profession.]
[@StoneGiantKing: That aura... this Hidden Boss is leagues above the lion king. This battle will not be so one-sided.]
[@GoldenFeatherPrincess: Be careful. Something about that knight feels unsettling. It carries itself like a veteran who has fought countless wars.]
[@ShadowWarden: Judging solely from its stance... this opponent possesses extraordinary swordsmanship.]
Without warning, the Skull Knight vanished as the stone beneath its feet shattered with a loud BOOM!
Dan’s pupils contracted at the sheer speed, but he instinctively raised the Thousand Heavens Rainfall Divine Sword just in time to meet the descending greatsword with a deafening CLANG!!
The tremendous impact forced him backward, his boots carving deep grooves into the stone floor before he finally stabilized himself nearly ten meters away, his arms tingling slightly from the unexpectedly heavy blow.
Before he could even recover, the knight appeared again, unleashing a rapid succession of slashes that echoed with ringing clangs throughout the room.
Each strike flowed seamlessly into the next with no wasted movement and no unnecessary flourish; every swing was executed with terrifying efficiency.
Dan was forced to continuously block, retreat, and deflect, inevitably giving ground with every brutal exchange.
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[@StoneGiantKing: Hmph. He’s being completely suppressed. The difference in swordsmanship is obvious.]
[@GoldenFeatherPrincess: His movements seem more defensive than before. He has barely launched a proper counterattack since the battle began.]
[@ShadowWarden: The Skull Knight isn’t relying on brute strength. Every strike forces him into a disadvantageous position. Whoever created this Hidden Boss clearly modeled it after a true master swordsman.]
[@DrunkenSwordImmortal: Brat! Have you forgotten how to swing your sword? Stop getting pushed around like a child and fight back already!]
Another thunderous strike forced Dan several more steps backward, but while his breathing and expression remained perfectly calm, his internal thoughts were entirely different. free𝑤ebnovel.com
’Remarkable,’ he thought, his eyes carefully observing every movement to decipher its rhythm.
The Skull Knight’s swordsmanship wasn’t flashy; it was simple and direct, yet every movement naturally controlled the battlefield by subtly guiding the opponent into an increasingly unfavorable position.
When another slash came, Dan narrowly redirected it and, instead of immediately attacking, he continued observing everything from its foot placement and shoulder movement to the angle of its wrists and the timing between attacks.
’I’m beginning to understand,’ he realized, his eyes brightening as the Skull Knight made a sudden, subtle twist of its blade that most people would never notice.
That tiny adjustment allowed the knight to transition into its next strike nearly twice as fast, explaining the endless pressure and revealing the secret behind its flawless technique.
With a resounding BOOM!, the knight surged forward once more, bringing its sword down from above in a crushing blow that Dan barely blocked, the impact echoing fiercely through the chamber and causing his feet to slide backward once again.
[@GoldenFeatherPrincess: He’s smiling... but why? He’s steadily losing ground.]
[@StoneGiantKing: Confidence alone means nothing. Continue defending like this, and defeat becomes inevitable.]
[@ShadowWarden: Strange... despite being pushed back repeatedly, his breathing hasn’t become disordered. It’s almost as though he isn’t panicking at all.]
[@DrunkenSwordImmortal: Hahaha! Wait... no. That brat... he’s watching. He’s not fighting seriously yet. He’s studying the knight’s swordsmanship!]
As several viewers fell into a stunned silence, Dan exhaled slowly and whispered, "Enough," a single word that echoed softly throughout the chamber.
While the Skull Knight raised its sword once more, its crimson flames flickering violently before it attacked, Dan lowered his stance and moved simultaneously, activating his [Footwork Lv.11].
His figure blurred, and for the first time since the battle began, he didn’t retreat; instead, he stepped directly inside the knight’s guard, letting the greatsword crash harmlessly past his shoulder before striking his divine sword against the knight’s chest with a resounding CLANG!!, dealing -368 HP and causing the undead warrior to stagger.
[@ShadowWarden: Incredible! He completely changed the pace of the battle!]
[@StoneGiantKing: He read through the Hidden Boss’s sword style...]
[@GoldenFeatherPrincess: He was learning all along...]
Dan smiled faintly and murmured, "Your swordsmanship... is impressive," as he took another step and delivered another slash.
-355 HP
When the Skull Knight retaliated instantly with a horizontal sweep, Dan activated his [Footwork Lv.11] to flow around the attack like drifting wind, appearing behind the knight to land consecutive strikes
-341 HP
-372 HP
The battlefield had completely reversed; moments earlier, Dan had been forced backward, but now the Skull Knight found itself unable to keep up with his increasingly fluid movements as lightning streaked throughout the ancient chamber, with every flash marking another successful wound.
[@DrunkenSwordImmortal: Hahaha! That’s it! Now that’s proper swordsmanship! Learn... adapt... then completely overwhelm your opponent!]
[@ShadowWarden: His movements have evolved again. He’s incorporating the knight’s own techniques into his own style.]
[@GoldenFeatherPrincess: Every step looks almost like a dance. Beautiful... yet terrifying]
The Skull Knight suddenly stopped as its crimson eyes blazed brighter than before, triggering the activation of [Undying Knight’s Will Lv.30].
With a massive BOOM!!, an enormous surge of dark energy erupted outward, instantly doubling the knight’s aura and accelerating its movements until it vanished without warning.
Dan’s instincts screamed as he spun to block an attack from behind, the resulting CLANG!! sending shockwaves across the chamber and pushing him several meters backward as he noted, "...So you’ve entered your second phase."
Charging again with a relentless speed and sharpness that far eclipsed its previous assaults, the Skull Knight closed the distance as Dan narrowed his eyes in fierce concentration.
"I suppose... it’s time to end this," he declared, pouring his spiritual energy into the Thousand Heavens Rainfall Divine Sword as lightning began gathering around the blade.
The very air trembled and the ancient runes beneath his feet began glowing brightly while crackling arcs of silver lightning danced wildly around the enclosed chamber.
[@DrunkenSwordImmortal: Hahaha! Excellent! The brat’s done playing around! Finish it with one strike!]
[@StoneGiantKing: Even a Hidden Boss won’t survive if that attack lands directly.]
[@GoldenFeatherPrincess: Such overwhelming sword intent... the chamber itself can barely contain it.]
As the Skull Knight raised its greatsword to condense dark energy for its strongest attack, Dan calmly inhaled and waited for the undead warrior to charge before swinging his own blade with.
"Celestial Sword Qi!"
BOOOOOOOOOOM!!!!
The foundation shook as a blinding crescent of lightning erupted from the divine sword, illuminating the entire underground chamber like a bolt of heavenly judgment descending into the earth.
The two catastrophic attacks collided head-on, and for a brief, breathless instant, time itself seemed to stand still.
